Week 3 College Football: Winners, Losers and the ‘Keep Louisville Weird’ Saga

When you think of “weird” in Power‑5 football, the first name that pops up this week is Louisville’s own Lincoln Kienholz. The kid, who hadn’t started a game since a high‑school outing in Pierre, South Dakota, suddenly found himself in the middle of a 41‑31 win over SMU. It felt like a scene ripped from a feel‑good movie – a lanky kid, a sudden burst of confidence, and a backfield that ran like it was on a sugar rush.

Kienholz didn’t just wobble around; he tossed for 177 yards and two touchdowns, making the Cardinals look like a genuine ACC contender. Behind him were two running backs who turned every carry into a headline: Keyjuan Brown erupted for 163 yards on ten carries, while Isaac Brown added another 67 yards and a score. If Wake Forest has any hope of slowing them down, they’ll need more than a good game plan.

Speaking of flash, Florida State’s quarterback Ashton Daniels put together his best passing day of the season – 377 yards – but that effort evaporated when a lightning‑delayed showdown with Alabama turned into a 50‑36 loss. The Seminoles have now surrendered 500 yards twice in under two weeks, a stark reminder that big‑play potential doesn’t always translate to wins.

On the opposite side of the ledger, NC State gave fans a glimpse of how a game can go sideways in the most bizarre fashion. After taking a 31‑28 lead, the Wolfpack’s CJ Bailey snapped the ball in his own end zone, tried to down it for a safety, fumbled, and then watched Vanderbilt cornerback Jordan Matthews scoop it up for a go‑ahead touchdown. It was the kind of play you replay in disbelief at the bar the next day.

Meanwhile, the Oregon–Portland State rivalry – a matchup that exists mostly for the paycheck – hit a new low (or high, depending on your perspective). The Ducks blew the Vikings out 84‑0, a score that looks more like a baseball rout than a football game. It raises the uncomfortable question: are these FBS‑FCS games still worth playing?

Back in the ACC, Kentucky’s head coach Will Stein finally got a taste of what he promised: a clean, controlled victory. The Wildcats edged Texas A&M 31‑21, proving that the hype he generated over the summer wasn’t all smoke. Even Oregon’s Mike Elko couldn’t hide his grin after the win, hinting that LSU and Tennessee might have to tighten their belts when they face the revamped Wildcats.

At the other end of the nation, Division III’s Heidelberg Student Princes pulled off an upset that will be talked about in small‑college circles for a while. They edged Mount Union 37‑34, snapping the long‑standing dominance the latter has enjoyed. For a program that’s barely a blip on most fans’ radars, that win felt huge.

Don’t overlook the individual brilliance of Duke’s Nate Sheppard, either. The running back has racked up more than 500 yards in his last two outings, and at his current pace, he could end the season with a top‑10 career total. Duke’s surprising ACC title run last year seems less like a fluke now.

And then there’s Trinidad Chambliss, the Ferris State product who turned a low‑key start into a revenge‑filled showcase against Ole Miss. He tossed 363 yards, two touchdowns, and added a rushing score, all while reminding the college football world that talent can surface from any corner of the map.

Lastly, the perennial defensive question at USC remains unanswered. Coach Lincoln Riley’s Trojans have continued to sputter, allowing 30 points to Louisiana and 35 to Rutgers. Unless they tighten up, the Trojans’ defense could be the Achilles’ heel that haunts them all season.

Week 3 was a roller‑coaster, full of unexpected heroes, cringe‑worthy blunders, and a reminder that college football thrives on the weird and wonderful.